Which arterial pulse should be palpated to assess circulation in an unresponsive adult victim prior to initiating CPR?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: C. Carotid pulse

  1. Step 1: During cardiac arrest or profound systemic shock, peripheral blood flow diminishes rapidly, making peripheral pulses difficult or impossible to palpate reliably.
  2. Step 2: Rescuers are trained to assess central circulation by palpating the carotid pulse in the groove adjacent to the trachea for a minimum of 5 but no longer than 10 seconds before starting chest compressions on an unresponsive adult.
Answer
Carotid pulse.
Why not the others: The radial and brachial pulses become impalpable during circulatory shock and cardiac arrest, while checking only the femoral pulse requires clothing removal and delays compressions.

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